• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2

Here’s a book about a robot who likes to ... SMASH! He’ll smash the usual things, like flowers and soda cans, but that’s just the beginning. This smash-happy guy crushes everything from pirates, ninjas and zombies to Brussels sprouts and all-talk radio. Whatever it is, he’ll gleefully SMASH it to smithereens.

One day, he finally meets something he doesn’t feel like smashing: a stylish, super-smashing girl-robot four times his size with sledgehammer hands as big as garbage trucks. Instantly, he’s smitten. But while he’s deep in daydreams about their robot romance — SMASH! The oblivious girl robot crushes him flat. It might just be the beginning of a perfect relationship.

Minimal text and retro-style 8-bit illustrations lend this story the characteristic feel of an old video game, with each smashed object yielding a bright burst of pixels. Joyful destruction takes center stage in this fun, unique play on what it means to suffer your first crush.

Stephen W. Martin is a genre-filmmaker, specializing in blood, gore and whimsical storytelling. His award-winning short films have been presented at international festivals such as Vancouver International Film Festival, Screamfest in LA, and Raindance in London, England. His most recent short film "Dead Friends" won the World Kids International Film Festival, where it was selected for screenings in classrooms all across India. Robot SMASH! is Stephen's first children’s picture book. He is a proud Newfoundlander who lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Stephen W. Martin's profile page

Juan Carlos Solon is a game artist at Massive Damage Inc. His illustrations have appeared in the National Post, Financial Post, Pylon, and UTNE Reader, among other publications. He also created the illustrations for The Geek’s Guide to Dating by Eric Smith. (Side note: Stephen picked up a copy of this book and said, “If they ever invent time travel, this book would be teenage Stephens’ Sports Almanac.) Robot SMASH! is Juan’s first children’s book.

Juan Carlos Solon's profile page

• A TD Summer Reading Club Selection

"This is an adorably quirky story perfect for fans of video games, robots, and unconventional happily ever afters."

Canadian Review of Materials

"With demand for STEM-themed books for toddlers at an all-time high, this will undoubtedly prove popular with both ends of its intended audience."

Kirkus